BUT ONE CHURCH.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 July 1916, Page 2

BUT ONE CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR

SIR, —Would you please permit me space to make a few remarks on a sermon -by the Rev. Lamond, published in your. issues of June Ist and Bth. It is rather late, but that is owing to my having just received copies of the issue. Owing to this sermon and other sermons creating quite a flutter and awakening in the Helensville Circuit of Methodism, and the rather un-Christian-like methods used and threatened, and terms applied to muzzle our worthy and honest

Minister, ■so that all may g<^£> sleep again, I wish, as a member of ti^^hurch and the great Church of free-thought, to speak a word in his favour. To my mind

Mr Lamond has placed his finger upon.

the one great need of all the Churches, sects, and creeds —that is, to get right down to business —God's business—a

levelling-out process, a wiping away of a lot of useless, cumbersome machinery. He is advocating a principle proven in this European conflict, that unity of - control brings forth victory. Is his voice • then, but a voice crying in the wilderness' . of Church forms and jealousies ? Pcr v - haps here, but not elsewhere. 'Is rioW Canada breathing forth the spirit oF) religious unity ? Are not broad-minded ,

men and women everywhere crying out

for someone to lead and point them to the pure all-embracing religion of Jesus Christ? That religion which is love,

and whose founder wills that all men^'^ shall be saved and come to the know- r' ledge of the truth. Unfortunately for' our Minister, his greatest opponents will. <• appear in his own Church, but, thank God, he has the courage of his convictions and will fearlessly preach them.

In another issue, sir, Mr Rimmer criticises this sermon, and his criticism.

is faulty. If I wished .to go contrary to the sermon I could quote Scripture to , apparently prove the theme wrong, and if I were to wish to prove his theme right I could quote Scripture that would place -

it on an unassailable and impregnable

position. That would be lengthy, and Bible argument is bitter and often unprofitable. But I would ask these questions of his critics : Is the sermon

contrary to the spirit and teaching of Christ ? None can prove it is. Is it contrary to the spirit and teaching of the Church of Churches ? . Answer that if you will, and in your answer' decide whom you will follow and serve. " For while one saith, lam of Paul, and another, I am of Appollos, are ye not carnal" (1 Cor., 3.4). "Whether Paul, or -! Appollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours ( (22, 23). And ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." —I am, etc.,

■ J. Leslie Carter. Silverdale, July 10th., 1916.